Human Rights Associate (Rule of Law) - Swiss UN Volunteer Associate Programme
Mexico, México, Mexico City
Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International Cooperation
Other
Date of last update: 2026-07-20 (Expiry date: 2026-08-17)
Job description
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The compatibility is only an indication and should not discourage you from applying if you think your profile matches. It is also not taken into consideration for recruitment.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. OHCHR represents the world's commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
OHCHR Mexico monitors and supports justice sector reforms in Mexico, particularly in relation to judicial independence, due process, accountability, and access to justice. The Office works with judicial authorities, prosecutors, legislators, civil society, and victims' groups to promote reforms and institutional practices aligned with international human rights standards.
As Human Rights Associate you support OHCHR as follows:
Support monitoring of justice sector reforms;
Conduct legal and policy research related to international human rights standards applicable to the administration of justice;
Draft notes, summaries, and talking points;
Support engagement with justice institutions, civil society, and victims' groups;
Support workshops, trainings, and technical meetings;
Etc.
Part of the UN Volunteer Associate Programme "Swiss Talent at the United Nations", this position is sponsored by the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD).
Social Security
- You will be serving on a UN volunteer contract. Your UN health insurance and travel will be covered and you will be receiving a living allowance to cover for your living costs in the duty station. Find more information in the UNV "Unified Conditions of Service" and the UNV "Entitlement calculator".
- Because of the volunteering and international nature of your contract, you may not be entitled to unemployment insurance upon your return to Switzerland, nor will any contributions to your national social security (AHV/AVS) be made from the living allowance you will be receiving. Soliswiss, our partner and expert will be available to advise on your individual social security situation.
Please find the full job description here:
More information
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Vacancies: 1
Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%
80-100% / 100%Type of contract: Volunteer
Duration: 12 months
Education level: Master's degree
Driving licence: Car driving licence
Macro-area: Latin America and the Caribbean
Level of experience: Junior Professional, 1 to 3 years
Area of work Definition: Democracy, Governance, Human Rights, Law, Public Administration
Area of work: Political Affairs, Conflict and Peacekeeping
Type of organisation: Multilateral Organisations
Join date: February 2027
Skills required
For the programme:
- Swiss nationality;
- Master's degree;
- Ideally 12 months of relevant professional experience (min. 3 months - max. 24 months);
- Max. 28 years old at the date of application;
- Excellent command of English and 2 official Swiss languages (one active = C1/C2, one passive = A2/B1);
- Proven interest in joining the international cooperation sector.
- Driving license for PHRD financed positions.
For this position:
- Master's degree in law, political science, or international relations, preferably with a specialization in human rights and/or international humanitarian law;
- Demonstrated interest and/or experience (ideally one year) in Human rights monitoring and reporting;
- Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines related to human rights;
- Exposure to a range of human rights issues, including sensitivity to addressing complex or sensitive situations;
- Experience in research, basic analysis, discussion, and drafting of human rights related documents
- Fluency in Spanish is required.
Please find more details in the full job description.
We are committed to gender balance and encourage applications from qualified individuals of all genders. We also welcome applications from people with different gender identities and from people with different backgrounds, including sexual orientation, disability, cultural or religious background. We value an inclusive working environment that promotes equal opportunities and a non-discriminatory culture.
Important details regarding your application
Make sure your profile on cinfoPoste is complete and up to date:
- Motivation letter in English (not more than 3500 characters, to be inserted in the pop-up window when you click on 'apply')
- CV in English incl the exact length and the % of your employments
- Work certificates, diplomas and university credentials (as PDF) uploaded under the section "documents" in your login area
- Copy of your driving license
Find useful tips and resources related to UN applications on the cinfo website and read this article.
Application deadline: 17 August 2026
First round of interviews carried out by cinfo: between 09 and 18 September 2026
Final selection: made by the host organisation based on cinfo's recommendation and a second interview with them. Selected candidates will be informed towards the end of October 2026.
Onboarding and training: The onboarding process will start after the selection. Selected candidates will have to attend mandatory predeparture training in January 2027.
Entry on duty: Departure is possible after the mandatory training. The final departure date will be discussed after the selection and depends on several factors.
Are you interested in the programme "Swiss Talent at the United Nations"? Do you have specific questions about the process and how to apply? Join us on Zoom during our Live Q&A sessions on Thursday, 23 July at 12:15pm or Tuesday, 11 August at 5:30pm. More information about the sessions via this link.
Any questions? Contact Michal Habegger, cinfo's Recruitment Specialists, recruitment@cinfo.ch
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